Improvement in crochet-machines



2 Sheets--Sheet1. S. L. OTIS.

Crochet-Machine.

-N0.164,586, Patentedlunel5,l875.

THE GRAPHIC CCLPHOTO -L|TH.39 Q41 PARK PLACEJLY.

zsmem-shnti S. L. OTIS.

Crochet-Machine. N -164.586. Patentedlune15,1875. F

v I I P THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOTO-L\TH.39 $.41 PARK PLAGLNY.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrron.

SAMUEL L. OTIS, OF BIRMINGHAM, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CROCHET-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 6 1,586, dated June15, 1875 application filed April 12, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. OTIS, of Birmingham, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Crochet-Machine; andI do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which saiddrawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, top or plan view Fig. 2, side view; Fig. 3, front view; Figs.4, 5, 6, and 7, detached views.

This invention relates to the construction of a machine for performingthe work upon hosiery commonly called crocheting the top that is to say,overstitching the top, a work which has heretofore been done by hand;and the invention consists in the combination of mechanism, ashereinafter fully described.

A is the work-plate, which, in form and arrangement, is substantiallythat of a common sewing-machine,and in like manner arranged above abed-plate, B. C is the driving-shaft, arranged in rear of the bed-platein bearings C and power applied thereto through the pulley C insubstantially the usual manner for sewing-machines. D is the feed-lever,actuated by a cam, D and through which the feed D is operated, such feedbeing also substantially the well-known four-motion feed. E is theneedle-lever, hung upon a pivot, e, and to which a vibratory movement isimparted by a grooved or side cam, E. In the forward end of the lever Ethe needle to is arranged, so as to pass up through the work-plate. Thisneedle is what is termed a barbed needle, passing up through the work totake the thread from above, substantially as in some classes ofsewing-machines. The lever E has also an oscillating movement at eachvibration, so that at one vibration it will pass up through thework-plate and presser-foot, as in Fig. 4, and

the next up through the work-plate outside the presser-foot, as in Fig.5, and as more fully hereinafter described. The prcsser-foot F isarranged on an arm, F, rising from the bedplate, and extending forwardto support the resser-foot, in substantially the usual manner forsewing-machines, and as seen in Fig.

2. G is a lever, hung upon avertical pivot, G on the arm F, and whichreceives an intermittent horizontal vibration from a cam, G In theforward end of this arm the thread-carrier b is hung, the vibration ofthe lever moving the thread-carrier back and forth across the path ofthe needle, as indicated in Figs. 4and 5. A guard, H, is arranged toarrest the thread-carrier at its two extreme movements, with an inclinedrecess at the said two extremes, into which the said carrier is pressedby a spring, H. The thread is led to the carrier 1) by suitable guides,as indicated by the line av, Fig. 2. The edge of the stocking is placedbeneath the presser-foot on the work-plate in substantially the mannerof introducing work to sewing-machines, the extreme edge being insubstantially the outside line of the presserfoot, so that the needle inits first movement will pass up through the stocking near the edge, andin its next movement will pass up outside the edge. As the needle isfirst passed.

up through the stocking and presser-foot, as seen in Fig. 4, thethread-carrier 1) passes across the front of the needle to thepositiondenoted in broken lines, laying the thread on the needle below the barb,so that as the needle falls it will take thesaid thread down through thestocking, doubling or forming a loop in the thread, and when below thework-plate, as in Fig. 5, the needle will be moved outward, and pass upoutside the stocking and presserfoot, as indicated in Fig. 5, and withinthe loop of the thread; then the thread-carrier b is returned or movedback to lay the thread below the bar, so that as the needle falls itwill take this second loop down through the first loop, the first looppassing off the needle, as the needle descends below the plate. Then theneedle is again moved to pass up through the stocking, as before, and socontinues, forming a succession of chain-stitches, laying the chain uponthe extreme edge of the stocking, the stitch being formed insubstantially the usual manner of forming chain-stitches insewingmachines which employ a barbed needle.

In order to close the barb or latch, so that it will return through thestocking without catching, a lever, L, is arranged, to which areciprocating movement is imparted by a cam, L From this lever an arm, Lprojects inward, front of the needle, and as the needle descends, thisarm- L is drawn back, as denoted in broken lines,Figs. 6 and 7, againstthe needle, so that as the needle descends, the latch or barb willstrike this arm, and be closed upon the needle, so as to pass freelydown through the stocking.

In order to insure the laying of the chain upon the edge of thestocking, a shoulder, 01, is formed on the needle, (see Figs. at and 5,)which rises above the work, as denoted by broken lines, Fig. 5. Thiscarries the loop above the work-plate, and while the loop is thus heldup the finger P is moved forward beneath the loop, as indicated in Fig.7. This finger is thus moved by a cam, P actuating a rod, P to which thesaid finger is attached. This finger supports the loop, while theneedle, with its next loop, returns down through it, and until the loopis drawn sufliciently taut upon the edge. of the stocking. Then the{inger returns to await the ascent of the next oop.

' Owing to the soft nature of the material of the stocking, it isnecessary, in order to make evenwork, that the stitches be drawn oversomething more solid and substantial than thatafl'orded by the stockingitself. For this purpose the presser-foot is formed with a finger, f, onits side, extending rearward from the aperture f, through which theneedle works, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7. The stitches will, therefore, belaid over this finger, and pass off as the work is fed back, and thusinsure regular and even stitching.

This invention has been described as applied to the stitching orfinishing the edge of stockings; but it will be understood by thoseskilled in'the use of such machines that it is applicable to similarlyfinishing edges of other articles and materials. It is not, therefore,to be understood that this invention is confined to the special usewhich the foregoing description would indicate.

I claim 1. The needle a, having an intermittent vertical and transversemovement, and the threadcarrier 1), having a corresponding transversemovement, combined with a work-plate, feed, and presser-foot,substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a work-plate, feed, and presser-foot,substantially such as described, the needle at, having an intermittentvertical and transverse movement, the threadcarrier 1), having acorresponding transverse movement, the guard H, and the spring H,substantially as described.

3. In combination with a work-plate, feed, and presser-foot,substantially such as described, the needle at, having an intermittentvertical and transverse movement, the threadcarrier 1), having acorresponding transverse movement, the shoulder d on the needle, and thefinger P, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a work-plate, feed, and presser-foot,substantially such as described, the needle 0, having an intermittentvertical and transverse movement, the threadcarrier 1), having acorresponding transverse movement, and the finger f.

SAMUEL L. OTIS. Witnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE, CLARA BROUGHTON.

